Convertible coffee-dining table



A ril 30, 1963 H. A. BERLINER 3,037,442

CONVERTIBLE COFFEE- DINING TABLE Filed 00"). 23, 1962 IN l/E/VTOR Henry A. fieflz'zzer H TTOANEYS United States Patent 3,087,442 CONVERTIBLE COFFEE-DINING TABLE Henry A. Berliner, 2841 Tilden St. NW.,

Washington, DC. Filed Oct. 23, 1962, Ser. No. 232,473 4 Claims. (Cl. 10819) This invention relates generally to table structure and more partlcularly to a novel construction providing a table that can be converted from a dining table to a coffee table of less height and length. The present invention is an improvement over the one disclosed in zlaggizicants Patent Number 3,020,111, issued February 6,

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a self-contained table structure which may be readily converted from a dining table to a colfe table by appropriate reductions in both the height and the length thereof, without detracting from its structural rigidity or appearance.

Another object of the invenltion is to provide a convertible coffee-dining table where the manipulation of the structural elements can be quickly and easily performed, and where there are no legs or leaves employed in one position which must be stored separately when the table is utilized in the other position.

Still another object is to provide a convertible coffeedining table which is simple in construction, economical in manufacture and not unduly subject to damage in normal use.

Still another object is to provide a convertible coffeedining table wherein the leaves fit tightly against the main body of the table when in use and wherein the leaves are safe from damage or wear when not in use.

Other objectives and advantages will be apparent from the following description when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a table construction incorporating the principles of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the table illustrated in FIG. 1, shown here in a position suitable for use as a dining table;

FIG. 3 is an end elevation taken on the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation similar to FIG. 2 but showing here the table construction in a position suitable for use as a coffee table; and

FIG. 5 is an end elevation taken on the line 55 of FIG. 4.

Referring now more particularly to the embodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the drawings, the table construction comprises a table top 1 defined by side edges 3, 5 and end edges 7, 9'. A pair of table leaves 11, 13 are provided to form extensions of the table top 1 at either end thereof. Leaves 11 and 13 are preferably of the same vertical thickness as the table top itself and lie in co-planar relationship therewith when positioned in abutting relationship with the respective end edges 7 and 9.

When used for dining purposes, the table is supported by four legs 15 pivotally secured to meet the corner of table top 1 by means of hinges 17. A pair of shorter leg elements 19* extend outwardly from the legs 15, substantially at right angles with respect thereto. Legs 15 and .19 may be formed of tubular aluminum or the like which in the present embodiment is square in cross-section and each of the legs 19 is provided with a slot 21 in its outer surface. The legs 19 serve to support leaves 11 and 13 when the table is in dining position. Pins 23 extend from the under surface of the respective leaves and are received in slots 21 to slidably interconnect the 3,087,442 Fatented Apr. 30, 1963 leaves 11, 13 on the legs 19. A spring 25 connected at its outer end to one of the pins 23 and at its inner end to leg member 19 can be employed in some or all of the legs 19 to urge the respective table leaves inwardly. Pins 27, at the inner end of each leaf, are received in aligned sockets 28 in the table top.

In the dining position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the table may have a longitudinal dimension on the order of 78 and a height of approximately 28". The leaves 11 and 13 may be withdrawn outwardly a short distance to remove the pins 27 from sockets 28. Legs 15 are then pivoted upwardly to the position shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, and the legs 19 and leaves 11, .13 will be disposed in vertical positions. The springs 25, in this position, urge the leaves 11, 13 upwardly out of contact with the floor and the pins 27 are received in aligned sockets 29' formed in the under surface of the table top. It will be seen that, in this position, the bottom edges of the leaves 11, 13 are out of direct contact with the floor and are spaced therefrom a sufficient distance to prevent scufling of the type normally incurred at floor level.

Any suitable locking means may be employed to lock the elements in position when the table is raised or lowered. For example, in the latter instance, conventional spring clips 31 may be mounted on the underside of table top 1 to engage and hold the legs 15.

While one embodiment only has been shown here, it should be understood that numerous modifications can be made in the construction and design of the present device without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the annexed claims.

I claim:

1. A convertible table, comprising: a table top; one set of legs mounted below said table top and selectively movable between a generally upright table supporting position and a folded position underlying said table; a second set of shorter legs mounted below said table top and selectively movable from a generally upright table supporting position to an outwardly extending horizontal position extending in parallel pairs beyond either end of the table; and leaf means slidably secured on said second set of legs, said leaf means being adapted to slide into abutting relation with the ends of said table top when said second set of legs are in horizontal position.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein the legs of said one set are rigidly interconnected with the corresponding legs of said second set at substantially right angles with respect thereto, each pair of corresponding legs being hingedly connected below said table top.

3. The device of claim 1 wherein spring means are employed to urge said leaf means into said abutting relationship when the legs of said second set are in horizontal position, said spring means urging said leaf means against the underside of said table when the legs of said second set are in table-supporting position.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein the legs of said second set are tubular in configuration and are provided with slots to slidingly receive sets of aligned pins extending from the bottoms of the respective leaf means.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,329,213 Neutra et al Sept. 14, 1943 2,527,505 Wilkinson Oct. 24, 1950 2,560,821 Rieman et al. July 17, 1951 2,602,716 Muth July 8, 1952 2,731,317 Duncan Jan. 17, 1956 2,763,889 Bendnarski Sept. 25, 1956 3,020,111 Berliner Feb. 6, 1962 

1. A CONVERTIBLE TABLE, COMPRISING: A TABLE TOP; ONE SET OF LEGS MOUNTED BELOW SAID TABLE TOP AND SELECTIVELY MOVABLE BETWEEN A GENERALLY UPRIGHT TABLE SUPPORTING POSITION AND A FOLDED POSITION UNDERLYING SAID TABLE; A SECOND SET OF SHORTER LEGS MOUNTED BELOW SAID TABLE TOP AND SELECTIVELY MOVABLE FROM A GENERALLY UPRIGHT TABLE SUPPORTING POSITION TO AN OUTWARDLY EXTENDING HORIZONTAL POSITION EXTENDING IN PARALLEL PAIRS BEYOND EITHER END OF THE TABLE; AND LEAF MEANS BEING ADAPTED TO SLIDE INTO ABUTTING RELATION WITH THE ENDS OF SAID TABLE TOP WHEN SAID SECOND SET OF LEGS ARE IN HORIZONTAL POSITION. 